What Is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is not only concerned with the healing of an injury but also concentrates on rehabilitation to ensure the return to maximum fitness and health. During and after an injury, such as a fracture or contracted tendon, an unnatural gait is often adopted, which in turn places excessive strain on other parts of the body.

Rehabilitation involves re-educating the limb and challenging the muscle memory.

Post-operative Cases Which Benefit From Physiotherapy

Hip dysplasia and degenerative joint disease (arthritis).
Cruciate repair injuries, tendon and ligament injuries.
Growth deformities (or post-trauma cases) with external fixation.
Joint fracture cases, where stability and mobility are paramount
After spinal surgery & other neurological conditions.

The sooner physiotherapy techniques are used, the better the success rate for surgery. Physiotherapy encompasses many different techniques that help muscles, joints, and nerves work to their full potential.

Standard Rehabilitation Techniques

Massage.
Passive range of movement exercises, also with the aid of wobble boards, swim balls.
Individually designed exercise plans.
Hydrotherapy.
Water pressure stimulation.
Temperature-varying gel pads (Thermotherapy) or Kneipp therapy.
Bandaging awareness.

Goals Of Physiotherapy

Reduction of pain and swelling.
Provision of individualized home care programs to maximize functional mobility and prevent injury to the owner or further re-occurrence of the injury to the animal and to enable rehabilitation to be continued at home daily.
Reduction of muscle atrophy and degeneration of cartilage.
Improvement and restoration of mobility and range of motion.
Prevention of fibrosis and soft tissue contractures in injured, weak, or paralyzed limbs.

We work closely with the individual patient, the veterinary surgeon, and you, the owner. We form a bespoke treatment program dedicated to the patient’s personal needs. This program will be revised and updated as the patient improves.

The number of visits will depend on the condition being treated. When progress is being made, the treatment plan is also altered.

Communication between your veterinarian and us, the pet physiotherapist, is vital to ensure common goals are set, and any specific recommendations or contra-indications are followed.